Hewitt, Safin to lead star studded Kingfisher Open

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Mumbai, Aug 22: Two former World number ones Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Marat Safin of Russia will lead the star studded field in the second edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open to be held at the CCI courts here from September 24 to September 30, 2007.

Widely acclaimed as South Asia's most prestigious Association of Tennis Players (ATP) event, top notch players from around the world will take centre stage at the upcoming Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open 2007.

The strong line-up that will battle it out on the hard courts of Mumbai includes, power-packed performers like 2007 Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet, 2006 Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis along with Wimbledon and US Open Champion Lleyton Hewitt and former world number one and Australian and US Open Champion, Marat Safin.

The 4,16,000 dollars Kingfisher Airlines Open is being organised by Globosport, India's leading sports and entertainment management company which is headed by Indian tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi and sponsored by Kingfisher Airlines, it was announced at a press conference here last night.

Speaking with media persons at the conference held to mark the countdown to the Kingfisher Airlines Open 2007, Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, said, ''The Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open 2006 offered Indian tennis aficionados some truly world-class tennis action and went on to be regarded as South Asia's most prestigious tennis tournament.'' He further added, ''With the successful completion of the first edition of the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open, Mumbai now occupies a place of pride on the world sporting map. With the line-up of top-seeded players in this year's tournament, tennis lovers are in for yet another season of superlative tennis. We are pleased that Kingfisher Airlines' association with this tournament helps to spread the spirit of tennis among many youngsters thereby paving the way for nurturing future champions from India.'' Mahesh Bhupathi, Managing Director, Globosport India speaking on a video conference from New Haven said, ''I am pleased to say that the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open has grown in stature and this year too we have a galaxy of top players, each capable of winning the title. All the leading players participating this year have beaten the best in the field and this fact holds promise for some scintillating action on the courts. I am delighted that the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open has lived up to its objective of attracting the finest talent and providing Indian fans a chance to watch great players in action.''

UNI